Apparatus for reinforcing concrete construction

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction includes a main frame body embedded in the concrete construction, and a plurality of reinforcing units. The main frame body is formed as a plate and has opposite first and second surfaces. Each reinforcing unit includes at least one of a first arched strip portion mounted fixedly on the first surface of the main frame body and a second arched strip portion mounted fixedly on the second surface of the main frame body. Each of the first and second arched strip portions has two ends connected to the respective one of the first and second surfaces of the main frame body, and an arched bent portion. The arched bent portion of one of the first and second arched strip portions of each of the reinforcing units is adapted to be disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the concrete construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a concrete construction, more particularly to an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventional building constructions include a steel reinforced concrete (SRC) construction that can be used as a column, wall or beam construction, etc. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction that utilizes arched metal plates so as to achieve the reinforcement effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the present invention, an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction is adapted to be embedded in the concrete construction that has an outer surface, and comprises:

[0006] a main frame body adapted to be embedded in the concrete construction, the main frame body being formed as a plate and having opposite first and second surfaces; and

[0007] a plurality of reinforcing units, each of which includes at least one of a first arched strip portion mounted fixedly on the first surface of the main frame body and a second arched strip portion mounted fixedly on the second surface of the main frame body, each of the first and second arched strip portions having two ends connected to the respective one of the first and second surfaces of the main frame body, and an arched bent portion, the arched bent portion of one of the first and second arched strip portions of each of the reinforcing units being adapted to be disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the concrete construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment of an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction according to the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing the first preferred embodiment;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a wall construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing a column construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of FIG. 4;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective partly cutaway view showing an example of a wall construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective partly cutaway view showing an example of another wall construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing a circular column construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a hemispherical roof construction incorporating the first preferred embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the second preferred embodiment of an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction according to the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective partly cutaway view showing the third preferred embodiment of an apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1 for reinforcing a concrete construction according to the present invention is shown to include a main frame body 10, and a plurality of reinforcing units. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the concrete construction is a wall construction 2 that has inner and outer surfaces 21, 22. The apparatus 1 is adapted to be embedded in the wall construction 2.

[0022] The main frame body 10, which is made of metal material, is formed as a plate and has opposite first and second surfaces 11, 12. In this embodiment, the main frame body 10 has a plurality of elongated plate portions 19 and a plurality of through holes 17 that are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each of the through holes 17 has two opposite sides that are defined by one adjacent pair of the elongated plate portions 19.

[0023] Each of the reinforcing units includes a first arched strip portion 13 mounted fixedly on the first surface 11 of the main frame body 10, and a second arched strip portion 14 mounted fixedly on the second surface 12 of the main frame body 10. Each first arched strip portion 13 of the reinforcing units has two ends 131 connected to the first surface 11 of the main frame body 10, and an arched bent portion 133. Each second arched strip portion 14 of the reinforcing units has two ends 141 connected to the second surface 12 of the main frame body 10, and an arched bent portion 143. In this embodiment, each of the first and second arched strip portions 13, 14 of each reinforcing unit is disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of the through holes 17, and has the two ends 131, 141, which are connected respectively and fixedly to one adjacent pair of the elongated plate portions 19 that define the two opposite sides of the corresponding one of the through holes 17. It is noted that the first and second arched strip portions 13, 14 of the reinforcing units are formed by punching the main frame body 10, thereby leaving the through holes 17 in the intermediate plate 10. The arched bent portion 133 of the first arched strip portion 13 of each reinforcing unit is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the inner surface 21 of the wall construction 2, as shown in FIG. 3, whereas the arched bent portion 143 of the second arched strip portion 14 of each reinforcing unit is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the outer surface 22 of the wall construction 2.

[0024] With further reference to FIG. 3, the wall construction 2 is a steel reinforced concrete construction that is provided with a plurality of steel strips 24, 25 therein and that is filled with concrete 23 between the inner and outer surfaces 21, 22. The steel strips 24, 25 are disposed adjacent to the arched bent portions 133, 143 of the first and second arched strip portions 13, 14 of the reinforcing units, wherein the steel strips 24 extend along a longitudinal direction, and the steel strips 25 extend along a transverse direction. As such, external forces that act on the wall construction 2 and indicated by the arrows 3 in FIG. 3 can be distributed via the first and second arched strip portions 13, 14 of the reinforcing units as indicated by the arrows 3′ in FIG. 3, thereby the achieving reinforcement effect.

[0025]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a column construction 4 incorporating the first preferred embodiment. The column construction 4 includes a plurality of the apparatuses 1 disposed adjacent to a periphery thereof, a plurality of stirrups 44 disposed around the apparatuses 1, and a plurality of elongated steel strips 42. The arched bent portion 133 of the first arched strip portion 13 of each reinforcing unit is adapted to be disposed adjacent to an outer surface 41 of the column construction 4.

[0026]FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a wall construction 5, such as a partition wall, incorporating the first preferred embodiment. The apparatus 1 used in the wall construction 5 can replace conventional reinforcing steel for reinforcing the wall construction 5.

[0027]FIG. 7 illustrates an example of another wall construction 6 having special reinforcing requirement and incorporating the first preferred embodiment. The wall construction 6 incorporates two parallel apparatuses 1 for satisfying the specific reinforcing requirement.

[0028]FIG. 8 illustrates a circular column construction 4′ incorporating the first preferred embodiment. The column construction 4′ has a circular cross-section. The main frame body 10 is configured as a tubular and is disposed adjacent to a periphery of the column construction 4′. The column construction 4′ further has a plurality of elongated steel strips 46 disposed in the tubular configuration of the main frame body 10 of the apparatus 1.

[0029]FIG. 9 illustrates a hemispherical roof construction 62 incorporating the first preferred embodiment. The apparatus 1 of the invention is disposed adjacent to an outer surface 621 of the hemispherical roof construction 62.

[0030]FIG. 10 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1′ for reinforcing a concrete construction according to this invention, which is a modification of the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the apparatus 1′ is implemented in a column construction 4A serving as the concrete construction. Unlike the previous embodiment, the first and second arched strip portions 13′, 14′ of each adjacent pair of the reinforcing units are disposed in a staggered arrangement.

[0031]FIG. 11 illustrates the third preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1″ for reinforcing a concrete construction according to this invention, which is a modification of the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the apparatus 1″ is implemented in a column construction 4B serving as the concrete construction. Unlike the previous embodiment, each of the reinforcing units includes only the first arched strip portion 13″. The arched bent portion 133″ of the first arched strip portion 13″ of each reinforcing unit is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the outer surface 41″ of the column construction 4B.

[0032] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for reinforcing a concrete construction, said apparatus being adapted to be embedded in the concrete construction that has an outer surface, said apparatus comprising: a main frame body adapted to be embedded in the concrete construction, said main frame body being formed as a plate and having opposite first and second surfaces; and a plurality of reinforcing units, each of which includes at least one of a first arched strip portion mounted fixedly on said first surface of said main frame body and a second arched strip portion mounted fixedly on said second surface of said main frame body, each of said first and second arched strip portions having two ends connected to the respective one of said first and second surfaces of said main frame body, and an arched bent portion, said arched bent portion of one of said first and second arched strip portions of each of said reinforcing units being adapted to be disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the concrete construction.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing units are arranged in a plurality of rows.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main frame body has a plurality of elongated plate portions and a plurality of through holes, each of which has two opposite sides that are defined by one adjacent pair of said elongated plate portions, each of said first and second arched strip portions of each of said reinforcing units being disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of said through holes and having said two ends, which are connected respectively and fixedly to one adjacent pair of said elongated plate portions that define said two opposite sides of the corresponding one of said through holes.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said through holes are arranged in a plurality of rows.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second arched strip portions of said reinforcing units are formed by punching said main frame body.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said reinforcing units includes said first and second arched strip portions, said first and second arched strip portions of each adjacent pair of said reinforcing units are disposed in a staggered arrangement.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concrete construction includes a wall construction.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concrete construction includes a beam construction.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concrete construction includes a column construction. 